Roman dwellings came in three main types: 1. Insulae - Apartment buildings for common people with shops on the ground floor and living spaces above, sometimes up to 8 stories. Water did not reach upper floors so public baths and latrines were provided. 2. Domus - Houses for wealthy individuals with courtyards and peristyle gardens, rooms arranged around atriums and impluvia for collecting rainwater. 3. Villas - Lavish country estates with open plans, mosaic floors, and landscaped grounds including gardens, fountains, and halls. Villas included rooms for owners, staff, and storage.

1. A
REPORT ON
ROMAN DWELLINGS
NIDHI A. THIGALE
B.K.P.S.COLLEGE OF
ARCHITECTURE
F.Y. B.ARCH NO:35

2. INTRODUCTION
Roman Architecture adopted certain aspects of Ancient Greek
Architecture
Roman Dwellings were of three
types
I. INSULA- House of Common Man
II. DOMUS-House of Upper Middle
Class
III. VILLA- Country Side House

3. INSULA
Insula was a kind of Apartment building, housing most of the Urban
citizens.
Insula was economical, as it was built for workers.
The Ground level floor of Insula was for shops and commercial
purpose.
Living spaces were on the upper floors.
Insula were usually built in Timber, Mud bricks and later Concrete.
It could be up to 7-8 storied high.
Houses had balconies on external portico.
Water did not reach
the upper floors, hence
Public baths and
Latrines were built.
Example : Flats of
Blocks , Austria

4. DOMUS
Domus was occupied by the upper classes and wealthy people.
Domus was found in all major cities.
Domus had a cortile plan with 2 or 3 courts.
This courts were generally peristyler.
The front part had a Atrium, surrounded by formal rooms like
Tabarnae, Cubiculum, alae, etc.
Impluvium was a shallow
rectangular portion of
Atrium to collect Rain
water.
Shops were occasionally
provided on the street side
( Tabarnae)
Example : House of
Pansa
Inner part was Peristyler and had
private rooms like kitchen, Bedroom, etc.

6. VILLA
Villa or a Country House usually had an open plan with no serious
consideration of privacy.
This Pleasure houses were lavish with mosaic floors and had
extensive Landscape
It had 3 parts
oVila Urbana: Rooms of Owner of the house
oVilla Rustica: Rooms of Chef and Slaves
oVilla Fructuaria: Rooms for storage
This complex consisted of open areas
Ornamental Gardens, Fountains, Ceremonial Halls
and Suits.